thout derogating in
the least from her own self-respect. In Kondje's eyes, her tender
embraces are legitimate, her glory is the conquest of my heart. I am her
master, and she abandons herself to me without transgressing any duty.
Being a daughter of Asia, she fulfils her destiny according to the moral
usages and the beliefs of her native land: to these she remains faithful
in loving me: her religion has no different rule, her virtue no
different law.

That is why I love her, and why my heart is possessed by such a frank
and open loyalty towards her. You speak to me about the future, and ask
me what will happen when the time comes for my marriage to Anna
Campbell? Well, the future is still in the distance, my dear fellow;
when it comes upon me we will see what I will do! Meanwhile I love and
content myself with loving!

Will that satisfy you? Oh yes, I confess my errors, I abjure my pagan
vanities, and my sultanic principles. I give up Mahomet! I have found my
Damascus road. True love has manifested itself to me in all its glory,
shining through the clouds; it has inspired me with its grace, and my
false idols lie prostrate in the dust----Would you like me to make you a
present of my harem? If this offer suits you, send me a line, and I will
forward what remains of it to you with all despatch: you shall then give
it my news, for it is six weeks now since I have seen my two sultanas.
Only make haste--in eight days' time they are to return to
Constantinople. The blessings of civilization are decidedly banes to
these little animals. Liberty in Paris would soon ruin them. I have
provided for them, and am sending them away.

I mention all this to show you in what happiness I bask. Reassured by my
affection, and confident in the future, my Kondje-Gul has recovered that
sweet serenity which makes our love such a delicious dream. As the
fierce Kiusko is now unmasked, we laugh at his foolish plots as you may
well imagine!

[Illustration]

[Illustration]

CHAPTER XVI.

My aunt Gretchen van Cloth is in Paris!

Well, why do you assume your facetious tone on reading that? I know you
and can guess your thoughts.

After all, Barbassou is a pasha, is it still necessary to remind you of
that?

Well, the other day my uncle informed me that he would take me home to
dine with him. I repaired to the boulevard at the appointed hour and we
started in his brougham for Passy. On the way he told me what it was
necessary I s